Xiamen:

Knows as Amoy to Westerners, it is one of the cleanest coastal cities in China. First founded in Song Dynasty, it later grew into a major seaport and commercial center in Ming period. Over the past four centuries, Xiamen has seen a succession of foreign invasions: Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, British, French and Japanese settlers have all exploited its strategic trading location. In early 1980s Xiamen is designated as Special Economic Zone by Central Government. Economic booming has not ruined the original atmosphere and surroundings, instead it brings the city the prosperity and tasteful renovations.

Highlights of Xiamen:

Gulagnyu Island:

Long known as the “Garden on the sea” and “Piano Isle”, Gulangyu's grand assemblage of colonial-style European architecture, winding gardens, and rocky, wind-swept beaches have made this island a must-see for resort-seeking vacationers and culture-craving aesthetes. At 93 meters, Sunlight Rock is the highest point on Gulangyu. It is an easy walk up the steps to the top, where there's an observation platform and a great view across the island and harbor. Transport around the island is by foot; cars can't mar the island's pristine streets, which are reserved for pedestrians and the occasional electric golf carts.

Nanputuo Temple:

On the southern outskirt of Xiamen town, the Buddhist temple was built during Tang Dynasty more than 1,000 years ago, and rebuilt in Qing period. This is a very impressive temple with a gaudy roof of flying dragon, human figures and multi-colored flowers, and valued stone tablets inscribed in the handwriting of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty. Another feature of this temple is its well-known vegetarian restaurant regarded as “the best under Heaven”.

Around Quanzhou and Xiamen:

Hakka's Earth Building:

Due to the war, famine and other reasons, Hakka people gradually migrated south from central China and settled mainly in Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi. The locals called them Hakka when they first settled in, meaning “guest families”. As a latecomer to new places initially occupied by locals, Hakkas usually had to struggle and survive on the less desirable lands. Thus, Hakka people are well-known for their perseverance even in the most adverse environment. The Hakkas who live in Yongding and Nanjing (southwest of Fujian) created their unique architecture called Earth Building. These communal houses made of compacted earth were built to provide protection against bandits and wild animals. The older examples of this style of construction consist of interior buildings enclosed by huge peripheral ones holding hundreds of rooms and dwellers. With all the halls, storehouses, wells and bedrooms inside, the huge tower-like building functions almost as a small fortified city. Earthen houses are made of earth, stone, bamboo and wood, all readily available materials. After constructing the walls with rammed earth, branches, strips of wood and bamboo chips were laid in the wall as "bones" to reinforce it. The end result is a well-lit, well-ventilated, windproof, quakeproof building that is warm in winter and cool in summer. It has been listed a Proposed World Culture Heritage by UNESCO.

Ancient Chongwu Stone City and Hui'an Maidens

1.5 hours drive northeast of Quanzhou, Chongwu is a gem for any tourist traveling in the south of China, famous for its richness of stones. It boasts one of the best-preserved walled cities. The granite city walls are around 2.5km long and average 7 meters in height. The four-meter thick walls were built in 1387 during the Ming Dynasty to keep Japanese pirates at bay. And it has survived the last 600 years remarkably well.
A feature of local customs for ladies living in the area is the headdress of women. You can see their colorful scarves drawn around to the front, fringes long and hair bobbed skywards, the women dress in wide black trousers wrapped with chain link belts. And they are renowned hard-working housewives supporting “Half of the Sky”.

Mt. Wuyi

Located in the northwest corner of Fujian, the mount has attractive and picturesque scenery, and was listed in World Natural and Cultural Heritage sites in 1987. In history, there is an over 2000-year-old ancient city built by Min Yue People; and it was the cradle of Neo-Confucianism, which has been very influential in the cultures of East Asia since the 11th century. The great fun among this scenic region is to drift leisurely on the bamboo raft down the Nine-Bend River winding its way in the mountains and enjoy the tranquility of Nature.

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